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Jason Fox reckons they were tougher on the celebrities than the original series (Picture: Channel 4)

SAS: Who Dares Wins star Jason Fox believes they ‘went harder’ on contestants on the celebrity version, explaining how they wanted to maintain the show’s authenticity.

The Channel 4 reality show is having its first celebrity series in aid of Stand Up To Cancer, seeing the likes of Jeremy Irvine, Jeff Brazier, Victoria Pendleton, Andrea McLean and more tested in Chile to see if they’ve got what it takes pass SAS selection.

The first episode sees contestants introduced into their training by jumping backwards out of a helicopter, with even more brutal challenges awaiting them once they head into camp barracks.

Jason Fox, an ex-marine who acts as an instructor on the show, explained how they made a conscious decision to not hold back on challenges to address any scepticism around a celebrity edition.

Chief Instructor Ant Middleton on Celebrity SAS (Picture: Channel 4)

Asked if they went easier on the celebrities in comparison to the normal show, Jason Fox told Metro.co.uk: ‘For me, we didn’t pull any punches. 100 per cent we probably went a bit harder with them.

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‘The opening scene is probably more than anyone has done on an opening scene. It’s quite daunting to be in a helicopter, let alone fall backwards out of it into some water from that height. There’s probably a bit more of me smiling just because I thought it was funny we were trying to break these lot.

‘In the grand scheme of things we definitely went harder because we didn’t want this to be dumbed down. There’s a lot of sceptics out there about this one because people go, “oh it’s celebrities blah blah.” And we’re like no we’re not going to do that. We still want to keep its authenticity and it’s the hardest show on TV.’

Despite their firm ways, Jason was overall surprised by the celebrity candidates, adding: ‘If I’m honest, they were really good. I was mildly impressed.’

Jason’s fellow instructor, Ant Middleton, however believes they treated them the same as the civilian recruits, saying: ‘No I don’t think we went harder.

‘Our job was easier because with the normal recruits we have to find out if there’s a persona there, it’s quite hard because it takes a day or two to find out, or get to the core.

Celebrities having to jump out a helicopter in the first episode (Picture: Channel 4)

‘But with these guys we know, especially being in that limelight as well, there’s a persona of course. They inspire a lot of people, they have to have that glossy side to them so we can go in and rip that down straight away.

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‘We didn’t treat them any different, I didn’t go in harder on them. I’m always calculated in what I do, but we get to work a lot quicker.’

You can catch Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins on Sunday Channel 4 at 9pm.